Meet Our Staff

Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Lee Strawhun

Rev. Dr.  Lee Strawhun is in his second year of service at Westwood.  A scholar and a visionary, Lee has proven himself to be a passionate leader with great hope for Westwood and the Christian community.

Pastor Lee has over thirty years of ministry experience both as a lay person and ordained clergy person in Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri. He has served in church and community organizations involving missions, youth, pastoral leadership, strategic planning, community service, chaplaincy, self care, practical theology, teaching, retreat ministry, staff and volunteer development.

Before coming to Westwood United Methodist church, Lee was the Director of Alumni and Church Relations for Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY where he focused on the international work of the seminary and funding for students. He graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia with a BS in Animal Science intending to raise cattle on the family's 1200 acre farm in central Missouri. However, immediately after graduation God led Lee into a lifetime of dedicated ministry within the church. Marrying his spirited wife Beth in 1981, the couple enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky three weeks after the wedding.  Lee specialized in evangelism and discipleship, earning  his doctorate in 1998 with a focus on church leadership and preaching.

Married for twenty-eight years, Lee and Beth have a daughter, Sara, who is is on staff at the American Red Cross in St. Louis, Missouri and a son, David, who is a college freshman at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. Beth is a pediatric physical therapist and a passionate spiritual leader in her own right. They  enjoy gathering with friends and traveling.  When you meet them, you'll notice at once that they love people and love serving in  ministry at Westwood.

Dr. Lee's Blog. View Blog >